Browns Post Game Notes

Numerous Browns' rookies continue to find their way into the team record books, while others recorded career firsts.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden completed 17 of 29 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns. In the second quarter he connected with rookie wide receiver Josh Gordon for a 71-yard touchdown, which was the second-longest touchdown pass by a Browns rookie. The play was also the longest play of the season for the Browns. Weeden has now thrown two of the five longest passes by a Browns rookie.

LONGEST TOUCHDOWN PASS BY A BROWNS ROOKIE

Player Date Opponent Distance

1. Tim Couch 11/28/99 Tennessee 78

2. Brandon Weeden 10/14/12 Cincinnati 71

3. Bernie Kosar 10/13/85 at Houston 68

4. Tim Couch 10/3/99 New England 64

5. Brandon Weeden 10/7/12 at N.Y. Giants 62

• Rookie wide receiver Josh Gordon recorded three receptions for a career-high 99 yards, with one touchdown. Over the last two games, Gordon has totaled five receptions for 181 yards with three touchdowns. His 71 yard reception today was the fourth-longest touchdown reception by a Browns rookie.

LONGEST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION BY A BROWNS ROOKIE

Player Date Opponent Distance

1. Derrick Alexander 9/18/94 Arizona 81

2. Braylon Edwards 9/18/05 at Green Bay 80

3. Greg Little 12/18/11 at Arizona 76

4. Josh Gordon 10/14/12 Cincinnati 71

• Gordon’s 71 yard reception today coupled with his 62-yard catch last week at the New York Giants (10/7), it is the first time the Browns had back-to-back games with a 60+ yard completions since 2005, when wide receiver Frisman Jackson registered a 68-yard touchdown on September 11 and tight end Steve Heiden had a 62-yard touchdown along with wide receiver Braylon Edwards’ 80-yard score on September 18. Gordon is the first Browns player to record back-to-back games with a 60+ yard reception since wide receiver Quincy Morgan in 2002 (60 yard touchdown on December 8 and 78 yard touchdown on December 15).

• Defensive back Joe Haden has recorded an interception in both of the games he has played in this season. He now has eight in his career.

• Running back Montario Hardesty rushed for 56 yards, including his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. He also added one reception for nine yards.

• Tight end Benjamin Watson totaled two receptions for six yards, including his first touchdown of the season. He now has 26 receiving touchdowns in his career.

• Joshua Cribbs’ 60 yard punt return in the third quarter was the fourth-longest punt return of his career and longest since he recorded an 84-yard return for a touchdown at Baltimore on December 24, 2011. His return today helped setup a field goal. On the day, Cribbs totaled 63 kickoff return yards (31.5 average), 60 punt return yards (30.0 average) and eight rushing yards on one carry.

• Kicker Phil Dawson connected on field goals from 41 and 38 yards. He has converted on all 12 field goal attempts this season and his last 18 straight dating back to 2011.

• Defensive back Sheldon Brown recorded a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was his sixth career defensive touchdown and fourth via interception. He has now recorded at least one interception in each of his 11 NFL seasons. Brown has played in 166 consecutive regular season games, a figure which currently ranks fifth among all defensive players.

• With three interceptions on defense today, the Browns increased their total to 10 on the season, surpassing last year’s season total of nine.

• Left tackle Joe Thomas has started and played in each of the first 86 games of his career, while center Alex Mack has started and played in each of the first 54 games of his career. Neither one of the two have missed an offensive snap during their career.

• Rookie wide receiver Josh Cooper made his NFL debut and registered two receptions for 39 yards. He was on the club’s practice squad the first five weeks of the season.

• Rookie linebacker James-Michael Johnson and rookie defensive lineman John Hughes each recorded their first career starts today.

• Defensive lineman Emmanuel Stephens totaled two tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. It was the first sack of his career and first forced fumble.

• Rookie defensive lineman Billy Winn recorded his first career fumble recovery and returned it 35 yards.

• Defensive back Buster Skrine registered a career-high 10 tackles, surpassing his previous best of seven, which he has accomplished twice.

• Defensive lineman Juqua Parker notched his second sack of the season and 38.5 of his career.

• The Browns’ 21 fourth quarter points today were their most since they totaled 21 against Baltimore on October 6, 2002. In addition, the team’s four touchdowns were their most since registering four against New England on November 7, 2010.

• Cleveland’s 34 rushing attempts today were a season-high and its most since attempting 45 against Seattle on November 23, 2011.